Schools
Governor Signs Bill to Move All School Elections to November
School districts will no longer have choice on when to hold board elections.
Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill this week that amends the Michigan Election Law to require school board elections to coincide with general November elections.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, election of all school board candidates must take place in November of even-numbered years to coincide with local, state and federal general elections.
"Utilizing a standard election cycle will cut administrative costs and help schools maintain focus on educating students," Snyder said in a press release Tuesday. "This change also allows for more consolidated elections so voters have the best opportunity to make their voices heard."
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Supporters of the election change say the law will also help boost voter turnout for school elections, which are historically lower than general elections.
The dates when Michigan municipalities and school boards could hold
elections were consolidated a few years ago and gave school districts
a few options to choose from. The new law takes those regulations even
further.
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The Michigan Education Association released a statement opposing HB 4005.
βWhat these new laws really do is again strip school boards of local
control and make school board elections more political, with school
district business being lost in other issues,β the statement said.
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